Gut health really matters for better mood and anxiety

Did you know that hidden in the walls of our digestive system, we have a second brain called the gut-brain-axis and it is transforming our understanding of the links between good gut health and mood?

​​The gut-brain-axis (GBA) consists of a two-way communication between our brain and our enteric nervous system, (neurons in our gut that control the function of our gastrointestinal tract).

This system of nerves in our gastrointestinal system has over 100 million neurons!!! This system has so many nerves our gut has earned the nickname “the gut brain” or “the second brain”.

​Stress, anxiety and depression can have a direct impact on our “gut brain” and how well our gut works, and vice versa. 

​Our “gut brain” is influenced by our sympathetic (“fight or flight”) and parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) modes and sends signals along the vagus nerve (an information highway) to our brain, relaying important messages about what’s going on.

This can influence how well our gut functions and helps explain why during times of worry, anxiety and stress (fight or flight) we may experience:

• Constipation
• Sudden unexpected evacuations
• A flare-up of IBS 
• Bloating, pain and cramping 

This two-way communication between our brain and our gut brain influences how we feel and think on a daily basis. A prime example of this in action is the feeling of butterflies in our stomach when we feel nervous or anxious before an important meeting or exam. 

​Probiotics and good gut bacteria support anxiety, mood and mental health

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The balance of our gut bacteria matter when it comes to mental health. ​Recent advances in gut health research has highlighted the importance of certain gut bacteria in this bi-directional communication.

The health of our gut and the variety of our gut microbes influence how we think and how we feel.

Addressing leaky gut or any other gut imbalances is an essential step when it comes to supporting mental wellbeing, such as: 

• Inflammation in the gut
• Excessive gas
• Bloating
• Bacterial, yeast or parasitic infections
• IBS symptoms 

How does the gut brain and our actual brain communicate?

Our gut bacteria chat with our brain and vice versa and use different modes of communication, including:

1. They're physically connected by the Vagus Nerve. Think of this as an information highway between your brain and your gut. Like a telephone wire connecting microbes in the gut with messengers in the brain. 
2. Wirelessly through chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers which are produced in the gut and send messages to the brain, influencing how we feel. An example of this is serotonin, the happy hormone, which is predominantly produced in our gut (regulated by our gut bacteria) and communicates with our brain. 

The health of our gut has an effect on our brain and how we feel from day to day. Inflammation, a lack of microbial diversity and even specific species of gut bacteria have been linked with poor mental health including anxiety, low mood and depression. Research shows that altering bacteria in the gut through specific dietary changes may help to treat stress-related mood disorders and anxiety.

Contact me now to find out more about my 90-day personalised 1:1 support package to nail your nutrition and solve your anxiety and gut symptoms for good.